Mimi ImfurstContestant from RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 3

The third eliminated contestant to sashay away on LOGO TVs RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 3 is New York’s own Mimi Imfurst. Here is what Mimi had to say.

At what age did female impersonation become an interest?I’ve been doing drag since I was 10-years-old. My mom put me in drag for vacation bible school. When I was 16 I went to high school in drag and I’ve been doing it professionally for six years.

How did you pick your name?I knew I wanted it to be a pun and I narrowed it down to three or four names. I was talking to my friend Portia who said, “If you don’t pick Mimi Imfurst you’re an idiot” and I felt like that was it.

How did you go about getting on “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” Tell me about the experience?It’s a long process – you have to make an audition tape, you have to do a bunch of looks. One part was 30 seconds, but it took me four hours to do. You send it to them and they narrow them down and interview us and there’s different steps. You usually find out two or three days before you leave to do it. It’s definitely an interesting process.

Who do you think should win?I think I should’ve won but, I didn’t so. . You know, my favorites left in the competition I would say are probably Manila- I’ve known her a bazillion years and I really love Raja and I know this will surprise people, but Shangela.

Tell me about the man behind Mimi Imfurst?The boy side of me is a complete and total nerd. I’m a news junkie. I almost always have on MSNBC when I’m putting on makeup. I’m very reserved when I’m not Mimi. I’m a lot quieter.

Tell me something people would be surprised to know about you.The thing that most people would be surprised to know is that I have a very hard time not working. For instance, I don’t ever go to movie theater, I would always think, “Why don’t I do this, why aren’t I doing that, why don’t I try this thing.” I’m obsessed with work. I’m beyond driven to constantly try something new and interesting.

What’s ahead for Mimi Imfurst?I’m in the middle of a 100 city tour. I just left Florida and I’m heading to Alaska, San Francisco, Texas. . .40 cities between now and April. You can check out my web site at www.mimiimfurst.com for tour dates. I recently started a girl group called XELLE with me and two biological women. Our song “Party Girl” is blowing up and is on the radio and we are in the middle of production on a video which will be released in the first week of March.